Do you have one tooth darker than the others? It's very common in teeth that have had a root canal or a knock. Normal whitening doesn't usually fix it, because the stain is inside the tooth. For those cases there's internal whitening. Here's what it is and how we do it at Somriures Dental Gavà.
Why does a tooth darken?
- After a root canal: remnants of tissue or some materials inside the tooth can stain it over time.
- After a knock: bleeding inside the tooth or death of the nerve makes it turn grey or brownish, sometimes months or years later.
- Untreated nerve necrosis.
If a tooth has darkened after a knock and hasn't been checked, it's worth doing so: the nerve may be damaged and need a root canal before whitening.
What is internal whitening?
It's a cosmetic treatment carried out inside non-vital teeth, that is, teeth that have already had a root canal. Instead of applying the gel on the outside, it's placed inside the pulp chamber, right where the stain is, to restore the tooth's natural colour.
How it differs from external whitening
- External whitening: done on all the teeth, from the outside, to lighten the overall shade.
- Internal whitening: done only on the darkened tooth, from the inside, and only on non-vital teeth.
Sometimes they're combined: first internal whitening of the dark tooth, then external whitening to even out the whole smile.
How is it done?
- Diagnosis: we assess the tooth with an X-ray and check the root canal is in good condition. If not, it's redone first.
- Protection: we seal the entrance to the canals so the gel doesn't reach the root.
- Whitening agent: we access the inside of the tooth from the back and place the gel.
- Temporary seal: we close the tooth temporarily so the gel works for a few days.
- Review: we assess the result. If needed, we repeat the process once or twice more.
- Final seal: once the desired colour is reached, we restore the tooth with resin in the right shade.
What results can be achieved?
In most cases the tooth regains a colour very similar to its neighbours. The result depends on the cause and how long the tooth has been dark. If whitening isn't enough, it can be completed with a veneer or crown.
Advantages
- It's conservative: the outside of the tooth doesn't need filing.
- It's painless: the tooth no longer has a nerve.
- It's more affordable than a veneer or crown.
Frequently asked questions
Does it hurt?
No. As the tooth has had a root canal, it has no sensation.
Does the colour darken again?
It can partly happen over the years. If it does, the treatment can be repeated.
Can it be done on any dark tooth?
Only on non-vital teeth (with a root canal). If the tooth is alive, other techniques are used.
If a darkened tooth is bothering you, come and have it assessed at our Gavà clinic. More about teeth whitening in Gavà and about root canal treatment.
